Director Jon M. Chu revealed that he deliberately kept the climactic scene of Wicked: For Good hidden from Universal Pictures executives, protecting its secret significance until the film’s theatrical release. The Jon M. Chu Wicked finale decision was rooted in his creative vision, ensuring the movie’s closing moment would resonate powerfully with audiences without interference from marketing campaigns.
Chu Kept the Finale Concealed From Universal
The director admitted during an interview with Business Insider that he never allowed Universal executives to view the movie’s final shot during production. The studio had pushed for using the iconic Broadway poster, which inspired Chu’s secretive approach. He explained that he made a point of refusing its inclusion in promotional materials because he had planned for the film’s ending to mirror the poster itself, creating an unexpected emotional impact for moviegoers.
“Do you know how hard it was to force Universal to never use it in any marketing material?”
Jon M. Chu, Director
Chu further detailed the studio’s repeated requests to utilize the image, but firmly held his ground, declining every time. He described his intention to downplay the importance of the reference, allowing audiences to encounter it only at the film’s conclusion. The secrecy was so significant that executives were never permitted to view the critical shot in any preview or review process.
“They even had a poster of it for the first movie, and I was like, ‘Why are we releasing this poster? We should never acknowledge the whisper. Never. Never.’ I wanted it to feel like we didn’t care about it, then suddenly it’s the last shot in ‘For Good.’”
Jon M. Chu, Director
“So the studio never saw that final shot. I imposed a huge thing: ‘Do not show this shot!’ They wanted it so badly.”
Jon M. Chu, Director
The Power of the Broadway Poster and Secret Scene
Chu recognized the Broadway poster as uniquely effective, striving to honor its impact with the film’s closing sequence. As Wicked: For Good draws to its secretive finale, Ariana Grande as Glinda whispers into Cynthia Erivo’s Elphaba’s ear—a moment mirroring the celebrated visual found on promotional materials, but explored in a new, intimate way on film.
“You don’t know what Glinda’s saying, because they never actually do that in the musical,”
Jon M. Chu, Director
For this pivotal sequence, Chu allowed the actors, referred to as “the girls,” to choose what their characters exchanged in the whisper. Even he stayed unknowing as to what words were shared on screen. He acknowledged this unknown element as symbolic of the mysteries and bonds of friendship, deliberately leaving viewers to wonder.
“But it’s sort of the key to friendship. That we have these secrets. And the girls got to choose what they are actually saying in the scene. I don’t even know what they said.”
Jon M. Chu, Director
Wicked: For Good Achieves Box Office Milestone Despite Mixed Reviews
The revelations about the Jon M. Chu Wicked finale come after Wicked: For Good debuted in theaters this past weekend, earning $226 million worldwide and setting a box office record for a Broadway stage adaptation. The original film previously amassed $112.5 million domestically and $164 million worldwide on its opening weekend. Although the new release has shattered financial milestones for Universal Pictures, it has received lukewarm reviews from many critics, who have described the film’s latter half as lacking in impact.
Despite these criticisms, Wicked: For Good continues its theatrical run, drawing audiences eager to experience the secrecy and emotional intensity that Chu prioritized when crafting the story’s ending. The mysterious finale, still shielded even from high-level studio executives like those at Universal, sets the film apart and deepens the connection between screen, stage, and viewers alike.
